- Whitley: Dwayne, I thought that I would always be dependent on a man. I thought that was just the way it was gonna be. But you taught me how to depend on myself.
- Dwayne: You taught me how to love, Whitley
- Whitley: You taught me how to love.
- Dwayne: If we were all that, to each other, why didn't our relationship work?
Can I just sing the praises of this show right now? Today I rediscovered one of my childhood favourites. I never forgot about A Different World, but just because I’m down I decided to go explore the relationship of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert. ANYWAY, what I rediscovered was soo much more.
When I was a child I learned about a lot of complex things from TV as every 90s kid, but looking back I clearly didn’t appreciate it as much as I do now. Like, A Different World wasnt only talking about love angst, and finding yourself as a person. It dealt with real life issues. Racism, what it means to be black in America, education, domestic abuse, violence, civil rights and so much more. The amount of times they refer to each other as “my brother” or “my sister” is telling of how the community of Hillman College was more than just a school. In many ways it was a reflection of the best parts of black communities.
The support system the students had was profound. When Gina was getting beat on by her scumbag rapper boyfriend Dion, not only did her friends stand up for her but the entire college did too. People started refunding his concert tickets, looked at him differently, his “friend” even called the cops on his ass because he was pushing up on Gina again. THATS HUGE. When Rihanna was beat up by Chris Brown, the situation wouldve looked so much differently if society treated Chris Brown like Hillman treated Dion in that episode (btw, called love taps. All episodes are on youtube btw)
And then theres that classic episode with racism. Like real racism, the emotion Dwayne feels is real. Not some like sad face monologue about what it means to be black in America. He’s angry, as he should be. His frustration about being 4th generation American but still seen as a black other is there, it makes sense, its real. Hes not sad about being black, hes not sad they wont accept him as american, he’s angry. Its tragic that now theres none of that on TV. Thinking we’re all living in “post-racial” North America (because I implicate Canada in this also) has become so dangerous, and without real addresses to these kinds of issues the discussion has lost it’s way. No longer do we talk about these things casually, it’s too touchy. It belongs in classrooms, conferences and forums. A Different World reminded everyone tuned in that these things mattered to everyone even if you weren’t an academic.
I feel like I can go on and on. The episode with the Malcolm X and Martin Luther King project was my first taste of that period in history. I wanted to know all about these men, to this day Malcolm X fascinates me. The episode even posed the debate about who was “right” so to speak. Thats crazy, a tv show on tv was actively discussing the influences of white liberal america and if violence was ever an answer?! damn, if we only had that now.
Abortion, street life, gangs, the problems with feminism, rape, A Different World was an amazing show, with an amazing cast. An predominantly black cast actually, show me where that exists today. If we’re so post racial, why are there less of people on colour in the media? Riddle me that.
If it’s been a while since you’ve seen episodes I suggest you go back and revisit them, trust me you wont regret it. The comedy is hilarious, the issues have substance and Dwayne Wayne and Whitley are just so friggen cute.
- Cory: It's an interesting feeling though.
- Shawn: What, to know it's over?
- Cory: To be the only guy in the world who knows it's not.
dearest whitney, youre the only one in the world that understood this very moment. to love someone but know that if you really do love them, being with them isn’t the answer right now. you understood the pain and relayed it through your voice. listening to you is the only thing that’s helping right now, youre the only one I think in my life that actually understands this situation.
” I hope life treats you kind
and I hope, you have all you dreamed of.
And I wish you joy & happiness,
but above all this, I wish you love”
